“It’s Okay Not To Be Okay” has brought to light various mental health-related issues; including the possible reasons behind a person developing a disorder, its effect to the actual person and the people around them, and how one’s facade and outer appearance may not reflect what’s going on inside a person’s heart and mind.
Here are four scenes that explained mental health using actual situations:
𝟏.) 𝐊𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬
Ko Moon Young’s (portrayed by Seo Ye Ji) sleep paralysis scene shows just how hard it is to get a peaceful sleep for those suffering from the condition. Ko Moon Young is one of the more complex characters as she may be suffering from other mental health-related issues aside from her antisocial personality disorder, as shown from her flashbacks. Moon Young has also exhibited various self-destructive behavior, regardless of her status and position.
𝟐.) 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟
Kim Soo Hyun’s character Moon Gang Tae had to endure losing his parents and eventually raising his older brother who is suffering from mental illness at a young age. Moon Gang Tae may seem to have grown up as a responsible adult with a calm demeanor, but deep inside, as seen in episode 3, he also somehow desires to let loose. Although Moon Gang Tae has no confirmed mental illness, the way he lived took a toll on his personal well-being and overall mental health; even possibly creating a facade to look “okay” on the outside despite hoping for an escape deep inside. It also shows how his inner feelings don’t change the fact that he sincerely cares for his brother; he’s just human and also gets tired, and he’s possibly hoping to live a more normal life with Sang Tae.
𝟑.) 𝐊𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐢 𝐃𝐨’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞
Kwak Dong Yeon’s character Kwon Gi Do was introduced as a playful troublemaker. Viewers got to see all his impulsive antics, and eventually got to know how he developed manic symptoms due to external and emotional factors which turned into a full-blown manic syndrome.
𝟒.) 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐓𝐒𝐃
Moon Sang Tae (portrayed by Oh Jung Se) developed PTSD after possibly witnessing his parents’ death, believing that it was the butterflies who did it. Due to this, the siblings are forced to move from one place to another whenever Sang Tae’s trauma manifests. The heartbreaking and heartwarming scene between the brothers shows how those suffering from mental illness are not deprived of human emotions and are not defined by their illness. It also gives a subtle glimpse of what happens if PTSD is left alone without treatment.
“It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” just released their third episode and we’re already getting in-depth analysis and explanation regarding mental health. Hoping the series can bring to light more issues, in hopes of reaching more viewers and possibly getting more people to understand mental illness.
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